Primary navigation:
Secondary navigation:
What's Your Passion?
More about San Antonio romance >
Hooked on History
It’s easy to get hooked on history in San Antonio — easier still to pull a partner along to experience the romance residing around every corner. Save the snazzy shoes for evening encounters; this is a time for the history-hungry to get comfortable.
Start with the stones of the Spanish missions; at Mission San José, dating from 1720, there’s particular romance in the legend of La Ventana de Rosa, an elaborately framed window many think was carved by master mason Pedro Huízar for his true love, Rosa. (Don’t miss Mission Concepción, either; its acoustics would make a commitment uttered under the dome reverberate throughout the ages.)
The Alamo, symbol of vows taken in defense of an emerging state, resonates with both sacrifice and hope, but don’t confine your immersion in Texas’ beginnings to the shrine itself; the more intimate Long Barracks contains additional clues to the site’s storied past, and costumed historical presentations in the amphitheater bring Bowie, Travis and more to vibrant life.
Quieter and even more intimate is the Spanish Governor’s Palace. The aristocratic Spanish house is on Plaza de Armas, just a block away from recently renovated Main Plaza and historic San Fernando Cathedral. While not precisely palatial – the “palace” was actually the residence and office of the captain of the Spanish presidio – the humble spaces evoke flirtatious fandangos by candlelight, and the charming courtyard could have come straight from Seville. Don’t miss the elaborately carved entry doors; local legend suggests they tell the entire story of Spain in America.
The whisper of a French accent can be conjured at the old Ursuline Academy, now the Southwest School of Art & Craft. The compound on the banks of the San Antonio River (itself a corridor connecting myriad historic sites) was founded by French nuns in 1851, and some of the original stained glass windows still illuminate the fine-boned chapel. Yes, it’s available for weddings should the need arise.
Sensible shoes and an ear for German might come in handy in the King William Historic District just south of downtown. The tree-shaded street that is the neighborhood’s core is lined with the mansions of German bankers, merchants and millers that settled in the city in the mid 1800s; the best way to immerse yourselves in the ambience is slowly and on foot. A pause for a more detailed examination of life in 19th-century San Antonio is possible at the Steves Homestead Museum, an imposing Victorian home operated by the San Antonio Conservation Society.
Put all the accents and influences together and you have Fiesta, the annual April bash that gets everyone into the streets and every heart beating just a little faster. Test your relationship with confetti-filled eggshell cascarones, marvel at the night-time spectacle that is the Texas Cavaliers River Parade, get up-close and personal with both multi-cultural cuisines and crowds at Nights in Old San Antonio … or simply watch much of the madness from a well-placed hotel balcony — Alamo T-shirts and alligator boots optional but recommended.
Adventure Junkies
What better excuse to hold him or her tight than during a plummeting passage on a roller coaster or while plumbing the depths of a Hill Country cave? San Antonio and its surrounds have attractions aplenty for the romantic risk-taker.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas provides summertime thrills in spades; get a grip on your seat and your seatmate at the 16-story Krypton Coaster or any of a number of exciting rides through air or water, then relax at one of many entertainment venues for some still-exciting but less adrenaline-influenced fun. SeaWorld San Antonio’s shows include seals and water skiers, but for interactive action, take a seat together in one of the first 20 rows for Shamu’s Believe spectacular—and prepare to be splashed. Do-it-yourself splashing can best be accomplished at Schlitterbahn in nearby New Braunfels, where rides such as the enclosed (think dark) Black Knight tunnel allow you to share an inner tube for two, after which the swim-up bar may be of use.
Adventures of a quieter kind abound as well. Descents deep into the many caves in the outlying Hill Country are a way to truly get away from it all, with six-room Cave Without a Name near Boerne a good introduction to soda straws, cave drapery and many more fascinating formations. For a stalactite spectacle at a larger scale, Natural Bridge Caverns, 30 minutes from downtown, offers the dramatically lit Illuminations Tour — that also features a lights-out, total-darkness experience. Take advantage.
It’s your choice at Dixie Dude Ranch near Bandera, the Cowboy Capitol of the World: more leisurely hiking and hayrides or (possibly) challenging horseback rides and country-western dancing; you’ll need boots regardless. The 725-acre working ranch is a slice of old-time Texas in any event, and the chow bell will call you to dinner regardless of the level of exertion. Enchanted Springs Ranch caters to John (and Jane) Wayne wannabes with its movie-set environment and shows by Pistol Packin’ Paula. And, if this it what it will take to get that special someone to commit, you can have him or her “arrested” at any time during your stay.
You can also leave the horse (and bull) riding to others. A ringside seat in February at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo might be excitement enough for most of us; it’s only a brief ride atop an unbroken saddle bronc, but it’s got to be among the world’s longest eight seconds. Hearts may beat just as fast for some when entertainers such as Toby Keith and Alan Jackson follow the action. And they would surely race again at the next-door AT&T Center during a basketball brawl with the San Antonio Spurs. Your team is as important as your song, after all—so why not the Spurs?
Your favorite animal can be another link, and the San Antonio Zoo has everything from tiny tree shrews to reticulated giraffes, plus acres and acres of lions and tigers and bears … Not that you’d want to take one home, but there’s also a weekly Komodo Dragon feeding that can be witnessed up close and personal. At the other end of the spectrum, the butterfly exhibit features 15-20 species, any one of which may come gently to rest on your wrist.
Culinary Cupids
Restaurants are classic sites for a romantic rendezvous (think engagement rings in Champagne glasses), and San Antonio is no slouch when it comes to low light and lush cuisine. For that matter, even a shared taco from a truck can work its magic (hot sauce helps everything).
A riverside table for two at Las Canarias in the Omni La Mansión del Rio Hotel should be booked when flamenco guitarist El Curro can regale you with strains of Seville — Wednesdays through Saturdays after 7 p.m. Chili-bathed shrimp and handmade margaritas will add to the ambiance. Tables No. 1 and 10 at Biga on the Banks, both with views of the river, can be discreetly portioned off from the dining room with diaphanous curtains; think Chef Bruce Auden’s legendary chicken fried Gulf oysters and mustard-crusted lamb with local goat cheese. Table No. 7 at the Fig Tree in La Villita is another regular request among romantics. May we suggest paté-stuffed Hill Country quail and sous-vide cooked duck breast with jasmine rice? And then there’s the fireplace table at Grey Moss Inn in nearby Grey Forest; it has been the scene of many a betrothal — possibly aided and abetted by a steak from the Inn’s historic well-come-grill, along with the award-winning wine list.
San Antonio’s Culinaria foodie festival brings together chefs, wines and winemakers from all over the world and places them in settings from intimate to all out.
Find inventive ways to ignite food and wine-fueled romance in unexpected places. A quick trip to Central Market on Broadway or Whole Foods in Alamo Quarry Market will provide posh picnic supplies aplenty — just take your purchases to nearby Brackenridge Park. Or think tailgate and the two of you alongside a placid river in nearby Blanco.
The wine angle can be played at the source, too; just head for any of the romantic wineries such as Becker Vineyards (don’t miss the lavender in season), Torre di Pietra Winery (the wines are available at Central Market) and Grape Creek Vineyards (ahem, there’s a bread and breakfast on site) outside of nearby Fredericksburg — itself a romantic destination for lovers of all things Texas.
Nature Lovers
As sophisticated as San Antonio is, it’s also both suffused and surrounded by nature. Portions of the river in Brackenridge Park haven’t changed in centuries and, counting natural areas under the auspices of the Parks and Recreation Department, the city literally has thousands of acres of green —some rugged, some manicured, all open to the public.
If some aspects of the Botanical Garden, such as the architecturally ambitious palm house, are carefully managed, other parts seem almost untouched: secluded strolling here through areas devoted to the state’s natural regions seems almost obligatory. If nothing else, the indoor orchids should suggest romance — if the outdoor roses and violets haven’t already done so. A light lunch or brunch at Anne Marie’s Carriage House Bistro is available just outside the entry to the grounds.
Nature is never far away on the River Walk itself (even in its downtown stretches ducks ply the waters), but for sightings of whistling ducks, cormorants, egrets, great blue herons and more, a ramble along the river south of town is recommended. A hike and bike trail makes it all easy; bikes can be rented at the Blue Star Arts Complex (take a detour to check out exhibits at the many galleries), and refreshment will await at Blue Star Brewing Company Restaurant and Bar upon your return.
No more than 30 minutes from downtown, more challenging trails await (though there are easy ones, too) at Government Canyon State Natural Area (with its evocative vestiges of ranching history) and Friedrich Wilderness Park among other getaways. Take binoculars and field guides or a slim volume of poetry — or all three. More specifically focused on birding is the Texas Audubon Society’s center at Mitchell Lake south of town. Open weekends only, this facility offers opportunities for reflection or instruction — and not just on the birds and the bees …
Nature is often most interesting when it’s artfully imitated, and for examples of trompe l’oeil faux bois, there’s no better place than Brackenridge Park. Scattered throughout are several examples of concrete arbors and shelters imitating wood, all from the hand of Dionicio Rodriguez, master Mexican artisan. One of the best examples is the large torii gate entrance to the newly restored Japanese Tea Garden. Crafted from the pit of an old quarry, the gardens feature waterfalls, koi ponds and aquatic plants in a unique setting sure to inspire reveries of a more genteel time and place.
Artistic Souls
“Meet me in front of the Matisse (or the Gauguin, the Hopper, the O’Keefe … or the Triceratops, for that matter); I’ll be wearing a yellow rose.” Haven’t you always wanted to say that? It’s easy in San Antonio—just pick a time and hook up at one of the city’s many museums; there’s one for lovers of every kind of art.
The Mediterranean-style mansion that is now the McNay Art Museum has been much expanded from the days when Marion Koogler McNay collected 19th and 20th century European and American art, but it still retains an intimate scale. Seek out works by Rodin, Picasso, Marsden Hartley and more. Leave the yellow rose of Texas in front of your favorite.
A rendezvous could easily be arranged at the San Antonio Museum of Art, which occupies a recycled historic brewery, or the Witte Museum near Brackenridge Park. Both have captivating collections (both ancient and completely contemporary at SAMA, historic and nature-oriented at the Witte), and both offer quiet galleries for contemplation or mutual (art) appreciation.
Shows at institutions such as the Southwest School of Art & Craft can help expand art horizons (and reveal topics of mutual interest). The Southwest School’s permanent works and gift shop are housed in a charming old convent, but the changing exhibits mostly take place across the street in a robustly recycled tire store. Loud and proud of it, the new Museo Alameda at Market Square is the nation’s largest museum devoted to Latino and border art and culture. The museum features changing shows, but the gift shop’s products are part of the enduring fabric of San Antonio: consider a love or luck potion.
Art galleries such as Parchman-Stremmel on the city’s near-north side and Joan Grona Gallery in the Blue Star Arts Complex offer the opportunity to purchase a part of Texas together; both feature contemporary artists from San Antonio, Texas and beyond. But if funkier folk and outsider art is more your mutual muse, San Angel Folk Art, also in Blue Star, has one of the country’s best selections. And if art-in-action tantalizes, there’s no better place than glass artist Gini Garcia’s eponymous Garcia Art Glass in Southtown; this fire-breathing display of glass-blowing should surely fan other flames as well.
Luminaria, San Antonio’s early-spring arts festival, takes the creative community to the downtown streets with everything from illuminated buildings to street dancing, poetry slams and individual artist displays — all with musical accompaniment from several stages, of course. Lose yourselves in art — along with up to 200,000 other people, it’s not intimate, but it’s certainly exciting. Think of the event as a very large blind date — with art and San Antonio.
Footer navigation:
- Sleep
- Eat
- Shop
- Play
- Plan
- Save
- Explore
- LGBT
- Relocate
- Film
- Media
- Meeting Professionals
- Tourism Professionals
Copyright (c) 2011 by City of San Antonio. Any party wishing to reproduce content displayed on this website must obtain the express written permission of the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau. Phone: (800) 447-3372
